The MLB playoff push is our daily look back and ahead at the post-season picture as teams position themselves for October.
Latest on the Blue Jays: After a day off on Thursday, the Toronto Blue Jays return home to kick off a crucial four-game set with the New York Yankees. Toronto currently leads the wild card race by one game over the Detroit Tigers, and will look to solidify its spot with a strong showing over the weekend. The Yankees enter play three games back of the second wild card position, and the Blue Jays can all but end their rivals’ playoff aspirations with a series win.
Francisco Liriano takes the mound for Toronto on Friday. The left-hander is coming off a solid outing against the Los Angeles Angels in which he surrendered two earned runs over six innings of work. Liriano tossed two innings of scoreless relief against the Yankees back on Sept. 5.
If the playoffs started today…
Wild Card
Blue Jays vs. Tigers
ALDS
Rangers vs. Blue Jays or Tigers
Indians vs. Red Sox
Toronto Blue Jays
Next up: New York Yankees
Pitching matchup: Francisco Liriano vs. Bryan Mitchell
Boston Red Sox
Next up: Tampa Bay Rays
Pitching matchup: Drew Pomeranz vs. Chris Archer
Cleveland Indians
Next up: Chicago White Sox
Pitching matchup: Trevor Bauer vs. Miguel Gonzalez
Detroit Tigers
Next up: Kansas City Royals
Pitching matchup: Michael Fulmer vs. Danny Duffy
Texas Rangers
Next up: Oakland Athletics
Pitching matchup: Cole Hamels vs. Kendall Graveman
Baltimore Orioles
Next up: Arizona Diamondbacks
Pitching matchup: Yovani Gallardo vs. Shelby Miller
Houston Astros
Next up: Los Angeles Angels
Pitching matchup: Doug Fister vs. Alex Meyer
Seattle Mariners
Next up: Minnesota Twins
Pitching matchup: James Paxton vs. Kyle Gibson
If the playoffs started today…
Wild Card
Giants vs. Mets
NLDS
Cubs vs. Giants or Mets
Nationals vs. Dodgers
Washington Nationals
Next up: Pittsburgh Pirates
Pitching matchup: Gio Gonzalez vs. Jameson Taillon
New York Mets
Next up: Philadelphia Phillies
Pitching matchup: Gabriel Ynoa vs. Jeremy Hellickson
Chicago Cubs
Next up: St. Louis Cardinals
Pitching matchup: Jake Arrieta vs. Mike Leake
Los Angeles Dodgers
Next up: Colorado Rockies
Pitching matchup: Scott Kazmir vs. Jon Gray
San Francisco Giants
Next up: San Diego Padres
Pitching matchup: Albert Suarez vs. Edwin Jackson
